Resilient bumper



p 7, 1957 M. POLLOCK 2,806,688

RESILIENT BUMPER Filed Feb. 23. 1954 INVENTOR. MAX POMOCK United Statesharem D 2,805,688 RESILIENT BUMPER l 'ollock, East Cleveland, Ohio,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bumpers, Inc., a corporation of QhioApplication February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,661

7 Claims. (Cl. 267-1) A bumper of the type contemplated includes abumper block of yieldable non-metallic material having wearing andresilient properties, and which conveniently may be made up of aplurality of layers of pieces cut from the casings of scrap pneumatictires, belting, etc., of rubber reinforced by fabric.

The block is mounted on the structure which it is to serve, by hardwareincluding mounting plates disposed at the ends of the block, and tie rodmeans extending through the block, and secured to the mounting plates.

Such a bumper is disclosed in my copending application Serial No.380,535, filed September 16, 1953, and the present invention comprises,generally, improvements thereover, pertaining particularly to themounting plates for the block and their relation thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting plate which initself will require the least amount of metal, employed in the bestdisposition thereof, and most inexpensively produced.

Another object is to provide that such plate has cooperative relation tothe block, so that the latter has superior operating characteristicsduring service, and a longer life of service.

A practice in the art has been to employ for mounting of the block, asat each end thereof, a heavy rigid length of structural steel angle ironof rolled section, wherein one leg bears in clamping relation to its endor" the block. In such construction the end portions of the block andparticularly the end layers of its pieces, under service impacts, tendto break along the rigid straight edge of the angle iron; and itconsequently has been considered necessary that the leg be of such sizeas to bear against most of the end surface of the block and therebyleave only a minimum of such surface exposed. This has resulted inminimizing the effectiveness of the block itself, in .yieldability underimpact.

In contradistinction to such practice and as will hereinafter appear, myinvention contemplates employment of a sheet metal plate which may havein itself some flexibility, with minimum bearing area of the plateagainst the end of the block, and with maximum length to the free edgeof the plate, as by a deeply scalloped formation thereofso as to avoidtendency of the block to break along such free edge, and permit a majorportion of the block to extend beyond such free edge and thus more ofthe block be unconfined and capable of direct shock absorbingeffectiveness.

The objects very briefly set forth hereinabove, together with furtherobjects, will more fully appear from the following specification, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a faceview of a mounting plate shaped according to this invention, andindicating in broken lines the contour and disposition of the end faceof a bumper block employable therewith;

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Fig. 2 is an end view of the parts indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken as upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing themounting plate after forming, and indicating the employment of a tiebolt;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but taken along the plane ofline 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bumper assembly made up of parts suchas indicated in Figs. 1 to 4; and

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 to 4respectively, and indicating similar parts but as employed for a blockof greater thickness and consequently heavier duty.

With reference now to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1 thereof, solidlines indicate a mounting plate stamping of heavy gauge metal and 2indicates, in broken lines, the end face of a bumper block foremployment therewith. The mounting plate is deeply scalloped along bothlongitudinal edges to provide a series of clamping projections 3 alongone edge, and a series of mounting projections 4 along the otherlongitudinal edge, and leaving a continuous intermediate portion 5longitudinally extending between the two sets of projections 3 and 4.

Preferably the clamping projections 3 are in staggered relation with themounting projections 4 and the contouring is arranged so that all oftheclamping projections 3 are whole ones whereas the end projections 4a ofthe mounting projections constitute halves of the others, and have endedges perpendicular to the intermediate portion 5 of the plate. Thus,there is one more clamping projection 3 than there are whole mountingprojections 4.

The contouring of the scalloping on both edges is preferably similar, sothat a plurality of such plates may be stamped from a strip of stockmaterial, of width equal to the length of the plate, without anyscrapping of material.

Also, it will be apparent that the openings 6 and 7 may be punched inthe plate during the same operation in which it is stamped or shearedfrom its stock material.

Each clamping projection 3 is provided with an opening 6 and, ifdesired, each whole mounting projection 4 with an opening 7.

It being understood that the bumper block 2 is provided with throughopenings aligned with the openings 6 of the clamping projections 3, itwill be observed from Fig. 1 that the total bearing area of the mountingplate on the end face of the block is very substantially less than halfthe area of the block face. This also appears in Fig. 2, which indicatesemployment of the plate in fiat condition, in connection with the bumperblock 2 here indicated as of laminated formation, as disclosed in mycopending application. In such employment the mounting plate is disposedwholly in a plane parallel to the end face of the block.

However, according to this invention the mounting plate may be formedwith curvature along its intermediate portion 5 so that its mountingprojections 4 extend therefrom in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofthe clamping projections 3.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, for such purpose, the plate is formed toprovide a substantial radius preferably extending transversely of theintermediate portion 5 substantially from the bases of the mountingprojections 4 to those of the clamping projections 3. Thus, when soemployed, with its curved intermediate portion 5 disposed along andadjacent the block corner which lies at the junction of one of the endfaces with the back face of the block, the plate will have no actualbearing against the block face immediately thereadjacent, and both plateand block may have some resilience at such arranged to providealaminated structure of. thickness the width of the layers, and havingfront'andback faces '8 and 9 respectivelyin whichthe layersrunedg'ewise,and end faces 10 faced by the layers. Preferably-also -eachsuch layer ismade up of a plurality of'pieces, in-

eluding single and double units arranged in staggered 10 'ingapplication.

As appears in Fig. 5, the block is confined between clamping portions oftwo mounting plates by tie rod relation between layers, as set forth inmy saidcopendcans such as through bolts 11, extending through theopenings 6 of the clamping projections Send the corresponding throughopenings in the block, the bolts thus acting as tie rods, each singleunit receiving one, and 'each'doucle unit two, of suchrods.

The openings in the block which receive the tie rods are preferablyslightly larger than the rods, both for ease inassernbly and replacementand to permit some relative motion in service.- Preferably the tie rodopenings 6 also are slightly-oversize for the same purposes.

As shown in Fig. 5, the near mounting plate is formed 20 so that itsmounting projections extend from the block generally in the plane of itsback face 9, whereas the far Such would be the We "platearrangement'were.thebnmper to.beiemployedat a be apparent'thfl theClamping 7130111 Openings corner, but depending upon the employment,either flat mounting plate is employed flat.

or formed plates might be used at both ends instead. If the mounting ofthe bumper be to wood or masonryconstruction, bolts may be employed inthe openings 7 of the mounting projections 4, whereas if the mounting beQ to metal construction, welding may be employed along the contours ofthe mounting projections 4, itfbeing noted that the scalloped contoursprovide ample length for ample securement by such welding.

It will be apparent that the size and proportioning of A the bumperblock may be varied according to the service intended. 7

Thus, with reference to Fig. 5, by employment of more layers orotherwise extending the length of the bumper block, with correspondingincrease in length of the tie rod means 11, the block may be greatlylarger {15 in the direction of the tie rods. Similarly, as by employingbumper plates of increased length as by having more clamping projections3 and mounting projections 4, the

in such respect from that indicated in Figs. -1 to 4 in- {elusive Herethe contouring of the mounting plate is :as before except that the plateis of greater width and its additional width is employed for greaterbearing of its clamping portion upon the end faces of the block. The

openings 16 of the clamping projections l3 are spaced farther from themounting projections 4 than before,

which latter may have the same outlines as previously described and thusbe cut from the same dies. 7

Also, preferably the'openings 16 are located adjacent the bases of theirclamping projections 13 so that the latter may have slightly moreflexibility in bearing against the bumper block. 7 As before, the totalof such bearing is no more than half the area of the block end facewhere the plate is employed flat, asindicated in Figs. 6

and 7, and still less Where the plate is formed as shown in Figs; Sand9.

I In-operation it will be apparent that the invention provides formoreflexibility throughout the bumper than has been the usual practiceheretofore in the art, par- 'ticularlyieitective adjacent the ends ofthe bumper block.

asoases Under various impacts the plate itself may yield,

particularly along its curved intermediate zone so that there may berelative motion between the clamping projections, both in assembly andin service, and the mounting projections. In clamping there may be someflexibility between the several clamping projections as to accommodateirregularity in theblock, and similarly there may be some flexibilitybetween the mounting projections to accommodate unevenness in'thesurface against which the bumper is mounted. Under impact the blockexpand somewhat into the clearancespace'provided for it along the curvedintermediate portion of the plate.

The scalloped edge of the clamping portionprovides a longer line andabetter distribution of the bearing area against the end of the bumperblock,so that the bumper block under impact adjacent its ends does nottend to break along such line, as has. been the case where the clampingmeans is rigid and its free edge terminates in a straight line.Particularly in the form of Figs. 6 to 9, where the clamping projections13 extend substantially V eyond their tie rod openings 16, theremaybegive of the clamping projections under impact to 'still furtherprotect the block ends against breaking.

It may be noted that,as indicated in Fig. l, the openings 6 forftheclamping bolts are centered beyond the center line of their scallopededge, whereas, as indicated in Fig. 6 the clamping bolt openings 16 arecentered Within the center line of their scalloped edge, but it willmight be located on the center line of their scalloped edge. e Also, itwill be apparent that if preferred, the clamping bolt openings in theblock could be centered in the central. plane of the block, intermediateits front and back faces, the parts being suitably proportioned for thepurpose. 1

Generally however, by the provision of the scalloped free'edge of theblock clamping face, as disclosed herein, the block may if desired,extend farther beyond such edge than were the edge a straight and rigidone; or, the clamping face of the mounting plate, need not bear againstas great a portion of the corresponding end face of the block, asheretofore considered necessary. These advantages are particularly foundWhere the block is made up of clamped layers of pieces as is usual inthe art.

I claim: a 1. In a bumper of the class described and including a bumperblock of yieldable 'material having front and back faces, and end facesextending therebetween: mounting means for said block and including ametal mounting plate having an intermediate portion'disposed along andadjacent the block corner at one of said end faces and said back face, aclamping portion disposed along said end face, and having a scallopededge substantially short of said front face and providing clampingprojections extending away from said intermediate portion, andfa baseportion extending from said corner and having a similarly scalloped edgeproviding mounting projections, the arrangement of said edges being suchthat said clamping projections are in staggered relation to saidmounting projections, said plate arid said block having throughopenings, one for each said clamping projection, and

through tie rod means disposed in said openings. 7 2. Apparatus as setforth in claim-1 wherein the bearing; area between said clamping portionand said end faceis less than half the area of said end face. 3.Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end mounting projectionsconstitute halves of the other projections.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping and baseportions are disposed'in angularly related planes, and said'intermediateportion-includes a.

substantial curvature in transverse section.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portionis substantially curved in transverse section, with curvature extendingsubstantially to the bases of said projections.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping projectionsare located entirely beyond their said openings.

7. In a bumper of the class described and including a plurality oflayers of yieldable material arranged to provide a laminated bumperblock of thickness the Width of said layers, and having front and backfaces in which said layers run edgewise and end faces faced by saidlayers: mounting means for said block and including a metal mountingplate having a continuous intermediate portion disposed along andadjacent the block corner at one of said end faces and said back face, aclamping portion having a scalloped edge providing clamping projections,disposed along said end face and extending thereover substantially shortof said front face, a base portion extending from said corner, saidplate having perforations one at each of said projections and saidlayers being correspondingly perforated and tie rod means disposed insaid perforations, each of said layers including a plurality of pieces,said pieces including single and double units, each double unit having apair of openings receiving a pair of said tie rod means, and each singleunit being half the length of said double units and being located at anend of its layer with an end abutting an end of a double unit having anopening receiving one of said tie rod means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,490,296 Swanson Apr. 15, 1924 2,649,295 Schuyler Aug. 18, 19532,664,257 McNally Dec. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,427 Great Britain of1891 723,068 France Jan. 9, 1932

